DA NANG, Vietnam — Catholicism is only Vietnam's second-largest organized religion after Buddhism, yet a recognizable building in downtown Da Nang is a church: Da Nang Cathedral, the landmark visitors simply call the Pink Church.
- Landmark: Da Nang Cathedral ("Pink Church")
- Location: Downtown Da Nang
- Age: Over 100 years; built under French colonial rule
- Mass in English: Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
Pink walls among modern towers
Ringed by modern buildings, the Gothic church is hard to miss. Its pink facade, tall spire and a rooster perched at the very top set it apart from everything around it.
The cathedral dates back more than a century, to the period of French colonial rule.
Sunday shows its other side
On most days it is a stop on the tour-group circuit. Visit on a Sunday, though, and the church is full: the faithful gather for Mass, a reminder that the building is home to an active Catholic community and not only a tourist sight.
Visitors who do not speak Vietnamese can attend an English Mass, held every Sunday at 10 a.m.
Why Filipinos feel at home
Da Nang has drawn a steady flow of Filipino visitors, and for Catholics among them — thousands of kilometers from home — the Pink Church offers a familiar setting.
Video and photos: BNNO Travel.